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WJC: 2024 Team USA Roster Talk

No Stramel is stupid. We saw what happened last year. Everyone said he shouldn’t make it because of a slow start and then he had a good tournament. We will probably be missing some much needed size, physicality, and defensive ability in the forward core. We saw that the smallboyz strategy wrecked us last year, and it doesn’t seem like we’ve learned our lesson.

I guess the goalies are decided. I really don’t care whether Oke or Hillebrandt made it. Probably better the one that can come back next year did.

Defense worries me a lot on that left side. I guess we’re down to Fortescue and Geary for that 3LHD spot. I don’t think Fortescue is bad, but I have little faith he can do the job as an 18 year old. Know nothing about Geary. I hope he’s good. Livanavage and Minnetian are wastes of camp spots. Pohlkamp probably is on the team.

Told everyone Quinn Finley might have a chance to make this team, although I actually would cut him from the forwards. We have enough skill. Whitelaw has no business on this team. Cut him and either Finley, Hayes or Terrance. Those are the four obvious ones to cut from the forwards.
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
No Stramel is stupid. We saw what happened last year. Everyone said he shouldn’t make it because of a slow start and then he had a good tournament. We will probably be missing some much needed size, physicality, and defensive ability in the forward core. We saw that the smallboyz strategy wrecked us last year, and it doesn’t seem like we’ve learned our lesson.

I guess the goalies are decided. I really don’t care whether Oke or Hillebrandt made it. Probably better the one that can come back next year did.

Defense worries me a lot on that left side. I guess we’re down to Fortescue and Geary for that 3LHD spot. I don’t think Fortescue is bad, but I have little faith he can do the job as an 18 year old. Know nothing about Geary. I hope he’s good. Livanavage and Minnetian are wastes of camp spots. Pohlkamp probably is on the team.

Told everyone Quinn Finley might have a chance to make this team, although I actually would cut him from the forwards. We have enough skill. Whitelaw has no business on this team. Cut him and either Finley, Hayes or Terrance. Those are the four obvious ones to cut from the forwards.
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Stramel was a replacement level player last tournament. He wasn't out of place, but I think it's a stretch to say he had a good tournament. The team likely isn't losing size, physicality, and defensive ability in the forward core with his omission. It seems highly likely that Nelson took his spot and Nelson brings size, physicality, better defense, and better offense.
 
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The talent between this years team and last years team couldn't be more different. If you aren't improving you're getting passed. Also lets not act like taking Stramel or not taking Stramel is the difference between winning. Guy was fine last tournament, not some PK 4C monster.
 
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Stramel stinks. Last year he couldn’t excel on a Wisconsin team that was a mess. This year, Wisconsin is great but he is still useless. I’m over him, i tried to be in his corner and make excuses last year, but he’s just not a good college hockey player. I dunno why anyone cares. This isn’t DeBrincat, nobody will look back in ten years and go “I can’t believe Charlie Stramel wasn’t there. No wonder they didn’t win.” Although they actually did win the year they cut DeBrincat, go figure.
 
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William H Bonney said:
Stramel was a replacement level player last tournament. He wasn't out of place, but I think it's a stretch to say he had a good tournament. The team likely isn't losing size, physicality, and defensive ability in the forward core with his omission. It seems highly likely that Nelson took his spot and Nelson brings size, physicality, better defense, and better offense.
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Fully disagree. He had a productive tournament in the bottom six and on our PK.

The idea that it was him or Nelson makes no sense. It should’ve been both, considering two of Hayes, Terrance, Finley, or Whitelaw will make the team.

What we are going to have is Moore and Brindley on the fourth line, two players who are both shorter than 6’0. So much for a big and physical fourth line. We won’t have that. If one gets injured or suspended, we end up having to play someone like Terrance who is a drop-off from the top 12, play Leonard on the fourth line (another sub 6’0 guy that doesn’t play any fourth line usually), or put someone like Howard completely out of body on a line that’ll get heavy D-zone deployment.

USAH always needs controversial decisions to make the team worse. It’s their nature. If you want to not play Stramel because he’s struggling and we have a better top 12, that’s one option. Not picking him when two of those four I named are going to make it is plain stupid.
 
Pavel Buchnevich said:
Fully disagree. He had a productive tournament in the bottom six and on our PK.

The idea that it was him or Nelson makes no sense. It should’ve been both, considering someone like Hayes, Terrance, Finley, or Whitelaw will make the team.

What we are going to have is Moore and Brindley on the fourth line, two players who are both shorter than 6’0. So much for a big and physical fourth line. We won’t have that. If one gets injured or suspended, end up having to play someone like Terrance who is a drop-off from the top 12, play Leonard on the fourth line (another sub 6’0 guy that doesn’t play any fourth line usually), or put someone like Howard completely out of body on a line that’ll get heavy D-zone deployment.
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Not really. That 4th line was not productive last tournament and Stramel was part of the reason why. He wasn't some black hole like Peart was for that team but it was a ripe upgrade opportunity if Stramel didn't show up this season and he didn't.

Let's wait and see what roles and lines players are on before assuming specific scenarios to drive a point. I for one won't be worried though about the team's size of guys like Hayes or Terrance are in play over a guy whose game has been trending downward for 1.5+ seasons.
 
Pohlkamp over Hunter is again a clear message. We dont like that you don't stay in our system. That said, I would have liked to see Slukynsky over Hillebrandt.
 
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I have no faith Hayes or Terrance are good players. Anyone can put up points in the OHL. Stramel put up points in junior hockey too.

We didn’t even invite a defensemen that is second in that league in points. I think we are cutting ourselves short on depth, if that’s all it is. It could be more.

We should’ve invited Eiserman. How can you sell people that Whitelaw or Finley are better players? They are all skilled players. None will play grinder roles. We always have to include some guys who have no business being there and leaving off a few that should be. Minnetian over Brzustewicz is another slap in the face, and I say that as someone that realizes Brzustewicz didn’t have a big role to play.
 
SK94 said:
Pohlkamp over Hunter is a clear message. You either stay in our own system or you can go.
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Not really. It's a message that they don't want to make the same mistake they did last tournament when they selected a bunch of smaller, non-physical, offensive defenseman.

Pohlkamp is a very talented offensive defenseman and he's also pretty physical and much stronger than Hunter. It's clear the staff sees a guy like him being able to play a variety of roles for the team unlike Hunter.

If this was the intended message guys like Stramel, Lund, Eiserman, etc. would be here over Hayes and Terrance.
 
I don't have a problem that Stramel and Eiserman are not there but I am quite mad that Brzustewicz and Musty are typical CHL snubs. Gavin Hayes or William Whitelaw over Musty? Not in my papers.

Whitelaw, Finley and Hayes/Terrance cuts before the camp.

Is Casey clearly over Brzustewicz? I am not sure. I also feel that there is room in tournament like this for two offensive d-men like them.
 
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Howard-Gauthier-Snuggerud
McGroarty-Hagens-Nazar
Perreault-Smith-Leonard
Moore-Nelson-Brindley
Finley-Terrance

Hutson-Rinzel
Buium-Chesley
Fortescue-Casey
Geary-Pohlkamp

Augustine
Fowler
Hillebrand
 
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SK94 said:
I don't have a problem that Stramel and Eiserman are not there but I am quite mad that Brzustewicz and Musty are typical CHL snubs. Gavin Hayes or William Whitelaw over Musty? Not in my papers.
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Musty is not surprising. I wouldn't have invited him to camp. There's just not a spot for him on the top lines, which is where he needs to play. He'll be there next year. Those other guys can play more roles than Musty and a guy like Whitelaw for example brings better skating, forechecking, effort, pest-like qualities even if he's not a big guy, a role USAH has done really well with in the past that Whitelaw can play.

I think Brzustewicz earned a camp invite and should be there but either way, him not making the team is not surprising whatsoever.
 
Obviously not a big deal since third goalie is more of a place holder but why Hillebrandt over the other 2005's?
 
Terrance got called up for the U-18 squad and was good in that event. Hayes plays a good style of game that can project for a 4th line, which is a role he is very comfortable in, in addition to being Top 10 in the OHL in scoring, his +/- is running away from the rest of his team.

Don't understand all the strays those two are getting as camp invites. They've been well in the running for 4th line roles since Summer and have had had good seasons.
 
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SK94 said:
I don't have a problem that Stramel and Eiserman are not there but I am quite mad that Brzustewicz and Musty are typical CHL snubs. Gavin Hayes or William Whitelaw over Musty? Not in my papers.

Whitelaw, Finley and Hayes/Terrance cuts before the camp.

Is Casey clearly over Brzustewicz? I am not sure. I also feel that there is room in tournament like this for two offensive d-men like them.
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Yes. With Hutson and Casey, the team has more than enough offense from the blue line.
 
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"Eight current Hockey East players invited -- seven from BC, one from BU"

Cool beans!

Pavel Buchnevich said:
Howard-Gauthier-Snuggerud
McGroarty-Hagens-Nazar
Perreault-Smith-Leonard
Moore-Nelson-Brindley
Finley-Terrance

Hutson-Rinzel
Buium-Chesley
Fortescue-Casey
Geary-Pohlkamp

Augustine
Fowler
Hillebrand
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3rd line will do some damage.
 
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On a team this deep and talented, someone's favorite was bound to be bypassed. Reminder that the objective is a balanced roster capable of winning gold, not an all-star team.

With 3 OHL players invited, accusations of anti-CHL bias don't make much sense.
 
Deep Blue Metallic said:
On a team this deep and talented, someone's favorite was bound to be bypassed. Reminder that the objective is a balanced roster capable of winning gold, not an all-star team.

With 3 OHL players invited, accusations of anti-CHL bias don't make much sense.
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Canadian fans of teams that drafted an American player that plays in the CHL get really stupid this time of year over this and it seeps over to normies. My favorite anectode was a decade+ ago, there was some late 2nd round pick named Shane Prince who played for the Ottawa 67s and also was drafted by the Senators, so Ottawa fans had a very up close and personal look at the kid. He had some good OHL stats or whatever, so Senators fans couldn't believe when USA cut him from their World Juniors roster due to CHL bias or whatever. Shane Prince also whined about not getting a fair shot to the press (nevermind that 7 CHL kids were on the roster that year). Basically every USA game thread that year was "well that's what they get for not taking Shane Prince" or assumptions that Shane Prince would have singlehandedly rescued the USA team through his sheer awesomeness.

Maybe he would have, maybe it was a terrible cut, years later, it's hard to say. What ended up happening though is outside of a couple completely forgettable seasons, Shane Prince has been a career AHLer and now KHLer, not withstanding some nifty Junior stats. Either way, expect a lot of that with Hunter B. if USA struggles at all during this 6 game thing that isn't as serious a determining thing it's made out to be (still fun of course) when variance enters the mix.
 
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